Applied automatic demographic analysis

ABSTRACT

A method for managing a data stream that is transmitted from a stream transmitter to a stream receiver disposed in an environment that includes at least one individual is provided. The method includes detecting an action of the individual in the environment and determining a demographic descriptor of the individual based on the detected action. The method further includes correlating the determined demographic descriptor and a content of the data stream to determine whether a predetermined condition is satisfied, and, in response to the correlating the demographic descriptor of the individual and the content of the data stream satisfying the predetermined condition, automatically modifying the data stream.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to data stream management. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to automated management ofa data stream based on demographic profile information of an individual.

2. Background Information

Data streams, such as radio and television programs, constantly permeatethe environments inhabited by individuals. Oftentimes, it is desirableto censor or manage the content of such data streams based upon theindividuals that are receiving the data streams. For example, it istypically desirable to censor offensive or inappropriate content in atelevision program when the television program is being viewed by aminor. Additionally, in a further example, it is often desirable totailor the content of advertisements in a radio signal or televisionprogram to the audience that is receiving the advertisements.

Presently, individuals are able to censor the content of data streamsbased upon user defined settings. For example, with respect totelevision programs, an individual is able to block the viewing of aparticular program or channel by locking the program or channel that theindividual desires to block. Additionally, individuals are able torestrict the viewing of a particular channel or program via parentalcontrol settings.

Advertisers and broadcasters are presently able to tailor the content ofadvertisements to an audience of a particular radio or televisionprogram based upon audience measurement studies. For example, NielsenMedia Research monitors television programs viewed by representativeindividuals and collects user submitted surveys in an effort todetermine the size and composition of an audience that views aparticular television program. Thereafter, advertisers and broadcastersare able to tailor the content of advertisements to an estimated targetaudience based on the results of the monitoring and the surveys.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary general computer system that includes a set ofinstructions for managing a data stream;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of an embodiment of a system for managing a datastream that is transmitted from a stream transmitter to an environmentthat includes at least one individual, according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for managing a datastream that is transmitted from a stream transmitter to a streamreceiver disposed in an environment that includes at least oneindividual, according to an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a further embodiment of a method for managing adata stream that is transmitted from a stream transmitter to a streamreceiver disposed in an environment that includes at least oneindividual, according to an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an additional embodiment of a method formanaging a data stream that is transmitted from a stream transmitter toa stream receiver disposed in an environment that includes at least oneindividual, according to an aspect of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of still another embodiment of a method formanaging a data stream that is transmitted from a stream transmitter toa stream receiver disposed in an environment that includes at least oneindividual, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In view of the foregoing, the present disclosure, through one or more ofits various aspects, embodiments and/or specific features orsub-components, is thus intended to bring out one or more of theadvantages as specifically noted below.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method formanaging a data stream that is transmitted from a stream transmitter toa stream receiver disposed in an environment that includes at least oneindividual includes: detecting an action of the individual in theenvironment; determining a demographic descriptor of the individualbased on the detected action of the individual; correlating thedemographic descriptor of the individual and a content of the datastream to determine whether a predetermined condition is satisfied; andautomatically modifying the data stream in response to the correlatingthe demographic descriptor of the individual and the content of the datastream satisfying the predetermined condition.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the action of theindividual is an audible output and the demographic descriptor of theindividual is determined based on the audible output.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, known informationof the individual is correlated with the audible output of theindividual to determine the demographic descriptor of the individual.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the action ofthe individual is a user input and the demographic descriptor of theindividual is determined based on the user input.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, theautomatically modifying the data stream includes preventing, with thestream transmitter, the data stream from being transmitted to the streamreceiver.

According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, the streamtransmitter transmits a data guide to the stream receiver, and a titleof the data stream is removed from the data guide in response to thestream transmitter preventing the data stream from being transmitted tothe stream receiver.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the automaticallymodifying the data stream includes interrupting delivery of the datastream to the environment.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the datastream comprises a plurality of data sub-streams, and the automaticallymodifying the data stream includes deleting at least one of theplurality of data sub-streams.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, the datastream comprises a plurality of data sub-streams, and the automaticallymodifying the data stream includes censoring at least one of theplurality of data sub-streams.

According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, the datastream comprises a plurality of data sub-streams, and the automaticallymodifying the data stream includes replacing at least one of theplurality of data sub-streams with an alternate data sub-stream.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the alternatedata sub-stream is determined based on the demographic descriptor of theindividual.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, theautomatically modifying the data stream includes mixing at least oneadditional data stream with the data stream.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, the methodincludes storing each automatic modification of the data stream in adatabase.

According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, thepredetermined condition is transmitting the data stream to theindividual associated with the demographic descriptor for more than apredetermined period of time, and the automatically modifying the datastream includes interrupting delivery of the data stream to theenvironment.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the environmentincludes a recorder that records the data stream, the predeterminedcondition is recording the data stream to the recorder by the individualassociated with the demographic descriptor for more than a predeterminedamount, and the automatically modifying the data stream includespreventing recording of the data stream to the recorder.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, theenvironment includes a data conveyor that is configured to convey thedata stream to the individual in the environment, and the automaticallymodifying the data stream includes preventing the data conveyor fromconveying the data stream to the individual in the environment.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, theenvironment is a private dwelling of the individual, the data stream isa television stream, and the demographic descriptor is an age of theindividual.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a system formanaging a data stream that is transmitted from a stream transmitter toa stream receiver disposed in an environment that includes at least oneindividual includes: a demographic determiner that detects an action ofthe at least one individual in the environment and determines ademographic descriptor of the at least one individual based on thedetected action; a correlator that correlates the demographic descriptorof the at least one individual and a content of the data stream todetermine whether a predetermined condition is satisfied; and a streammodifier that automatically modifies the data stream in response to thecorrelator determining that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the demographicdeterminer includes an audio detector that detects an audible output ofthe at least one individual as the action of the at least oneindividual, and the demographic determiner determines the demographicdescriptor based on the audible output detected by the audio detector.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a tangiblecomputer-readable medium encoded with an executable computer program formanaging a data stream that is transmitted from a stream transmitter toa stream receiver disposed in an environment that includes at least oneindividual includes: an action detecting code segment that detects anaction of the individual in the environment; a demographic determiningcode segment that determines, based on the detected action of theindividual, a demographic descriptor of the individual; a correlatingcode segment that correlates the determined demographic descriptor ofthe individual and a content of the data stream to determine whether apredetermined condition is satisfied; and a modifying code segment thatautomatically modifies the data stream in response to the correlatingcode segment determining that, based on correlating the determineddemographic descriptor of the individual and the content of the datastream, the predetermined condition is satisfied.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system, onwhich a method for managing a data stream can be implemented, which isshown and is designated 100. The computer system 100 can include a setof instructions that can be executed to cause the computer system 100 toperform any one or more of the methods or computer based functionsdisclosed herein. The computer system 100 may operate as a standalonedevice or may be connected, for example, using a network 101, to othercomputer systems or peripheral devices.

In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in thecapacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-clientuser network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer(or distributed) network environment. The computer system 100 can alsobe implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, a global positioning satellite(GPS) device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer,a communications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, acontrol system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, apager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router,switch or bridge, or any other machine capable of executing a set ofinstructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be takenby that machine. In a particular embodiment, the computer system 100 canbe implemented using electronic devices that provide voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single computer system 100 isillustrated, the term “system” shall also be taken to include anycollection of systems or sub-systems that individually or jointlyexecute a set, or multiple sets, of instructions to perform one or morecomputer functions.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the computer system 100 may include aprocessor 110, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU), or both. Moreover, the computer system 100 caninclude a main memory 120 and a static memory 130 that can communicatewith each other via a bus 108. As shown, the computer system 100 mayfurther include a video display unit 150, such as a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a flat paneldisplay, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT).Additionally, the computer system 100 may include an input device 160,such as a keyboard, and a cursor control device 170, such as a mouse.The computer system 100 can also include a disk drive unit 180, a signalgeneration device 190, such as a speaker or remote control, and anetwork interface device 140.

In a particular embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 1, the disk drive unit180 may include a computer-readable medium 182 in which one or more setsof instructions 184, e.g. software, can be embedded. A computer-readablemedium 182 is a tangible article of manufacture, from which sets ofinstructions 184 can be read. Further, the instructions 184 may embodyone or more of the methods or logic as described herein. In a particularembodiment, the instructions 184 may reside completely, or at leastpartially, within the main memory 120, the static memory 130, and/orwithin the processor 110 during execution by the computer system 100.The main memory 120 and the processor 110 also may includecomputer-readable media.

In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations, suchas application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arraysand other hardware devices, can be constructed to implement one or moreof the methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium 182 thatincludes instructions 184 or receives and executes instructions 184responsive to a propagated signal, so that a device connected to anetwork 101 can communicate voice, video or data over the network 101.Further, the instructions 184 may be transmitted or received over thenetwork 101 via the network interface device 140.

A system 200 for managing a data stream 202 that is transmitted from astream transmitter 204 to a stream receiver 206 disposed in anenvironment 208 that includes at least one individual 210 is generallyshown in FIG. 2.

In the exemplary embodiment of the system 200 shown in FIG. 2, the datastream 202 is shown as a video stream. However, those skilled in the artappreciate that, in additional embodiments of the present application,the data stream 202 may be an audio stream or any other type of datastream. Additionally, those skilled in the art further appreciate thatthe data stream 202 may be an analog data stream or a digital datastream.

In the exemplary system 200 shown in FIG. 2, the stream transmitter 204is shown as being an antenna and the stream receiver 206 is shown asbeing a set-top box. However, those skilled in the art appreciate thatthe data steam 202 may be transmitted from additional types of streamtransmitters 204. Additionally, the stream receiver 206 that is disposedin the environment 208 and that receives the data stream 202 from thestream transmitter 204 may be an alternative type of stream receiver,such as, but not limited to, a television receiver, a radio receiver, orany other type of receiver commonly known in the art.

In the exemplary system 200, the environment 208 is shown as a privatedwelling. However, those skilled in the art appreciate that theenvironment 208 may be additional types of environments, such as, butnot limited to, a public environment or a commercial establishment.Furthermore, the individual 210 in the environment 208 may be either aknown individual or an unknown individual. For example, the individual210 may be a known family member that resides at a private dwelling orthe individual may be an unknown patron that visits a commercialestablishment. Of course, those skilled in the art appreciate that theembodiments as described above are to be considered merely exemplary andare not intended to be limiting.

The system 200 includes a demographic determiner 212 that detects anaction 216 of the individual 210 in the environment 208 and thatdetermines a demographic descriptor of the individual 210 based on thedetected action 216. In FIG. 2, the demographic determiner 212 is shownas including an audio capture device 214 for detecting a voice activityor an audible output of the individual. However, in additionalembodiments of the system 200, the demographic determiner 212 mayinclude an input receiver for receiving an input of the individual 210or any other detector for detecting any type of action of theindividual. The action 216 is shown in FIG. 2 as being an activity of asingle individual 210, however, in alternative embodiments of thesystem, the detected action 216 may be an activity of a plurality ofindividuals 210. For example, in an alternative embodiment of the system200, the demographic determiner 212 may detect voice activities of aplurality of individuals.

In the embodiment of the system 200 wherein the demographic determiner212 detects action 216 of a plurality of individuals 210, thedemographic determiner 212 may determine a demographic descriptor of theplurality of individuals 210 based on the totality of the detectedaction 216, or, alternatively, the demographic determiner 212 may filterthe detected action 216 to determine the demographic descriptor. Forexample, the demographic determiner 212 may filter the detected action216 based upon volume, pitch, frequency, tone, or any othercharacteristic of the action 216.

In the embodiment of the system 200 wherein the demographic determiner212 detects action 216 of a plurality of individuals 210, thedemographic determiner 212 may determine a demographic descriptor foreach of the plurality of individuals 210. For example, if thedemographic determiner 212 detects an action 216 that is a conversationoccurring among a plurality of individuals 210, the demographicdeterminer 212 may filter the conversation based upon a characteristic,such as volume, pitch, frequency, or tone, to determine a demographicdescriptor for each individual 210 participating in the conversation. Ofcourse, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiment asdescribed above is to be considered merely exemplary and is not intendedto be limiting.

The demographic determiner 212 may analyze the detected action 216 basedupon any characteristic of the action 216 to determine the demographicdescriptor. For example, in the embodiment of the system 200 wherein thedetected action 216 is voice activity, the voice activity may beanalyzed according to, but not limited to, any linguistic property ofthe voice activity or any paralinguistic property of the voice activity.Additionally, or alternatively, the voice activity may be analyzedaccording to any combination of linguistic and/or paralinguisticproperties in order to determine the demographic descriptor.

The demographic descriptor determined by the demographic determiner 212may be any descriptor which identifies a characteristic of theindividual 210. For example, the demographic descriptor may be, but isnot limited to, age, race, nationality, gender, educational attainment,and location. Of course, those skilled in the art will appreciate thatadditional demographic descriptors may be used in addition to, oralternatively to, the exemplary demographic descriptors listed above.

The system 200 includes a correlator 218 that correlates the determineddemographic descriptor of the individual 210 and a content of the datastream 202 to determine whether a particular condition is satisfied. Forexample, in an exemplary embodiment of the system 200, wherein thedemographic descriptor is an age of the individual 210, the correlator218 may determine whether the age of the individual 210 is less than arecommended viewing age of the data stream 202. That is, if a datastream 202 includes a Motion Picture Association of America rating of“R” or “Restricted,” the correlator 218 may determine whether the age ofthe individual 210 is less than the age of 17. In a further exemplaryembodiment of the system 200, the correlator 218 may determine whetherthe demographic descriptor of the individual 210 corresponds, or doesnot correspond, to a genre of the data stream 202. That is, if the genreof the data stream 202 relates to a sporting event or sports, thecorrelator 218 may determine whether the demographic descriptor of theindividual 210 is a male, or alternatively, that the demographicdescriptor is not a male. Of course, those skilled in the art willappreciate that the embodiments described above are to be consideredmerely exemplary and are not intended to be limiting.

As shown in FIG. 2, the system 200 further includes a stream modifier220 that automatically modifies the data stream in response to thecorrelator 218 determining that the predetermined condition issatisfied. For example, in the exemplary embodiment described abovewherein the correlator 218 determines that the age of the individual 210is less than a recommended viewing age of the data stream 202, thestream modifier 220 automatically modifies the data stream 202.According to such an exemplary embodiment, the stream modifier 220 maycensor or edit the data steam 202 to remove any offensive orinappropriate content. Of course, those skilled in the art willappreciate that the embodiment described above is to be consideredmerely exemplary and is not intended to be limiting and that the streammodifier 220 may automatically modify the data stream 202 in additionaland/or alternative methods. For example, in the exemplary embodimentdescribed above wherein the correlator 218 determines that the genre ofthe data stream 202 relates to men's clothing and that the gender of theindividual 210 is not a male, then the stream modifier 220 mayautomatically modify the data stream 202 by replacing the data stream202 with a data stream 202 relating to women's clothing.

After automatically modifying the data stream 202, as shown in FIG. 2,the stream modifier 220 may output the modified data stream 202 to adata conveyor 222, such as a television, for conveying the modified datastream 202 to the individual 210 in the environment 208. Of course,those skilled in the art appreciate that in additional embodiments,additional and/or alternative data conveyors 222 may also be used, suchas, but not limited to, computers, projectors, radios, electronicbillboards, etc.

The present disclosure also provides a method for managing a data streamthat is transmitted to a stream receiver that is disposed in anenvironment that includes at least one individual. An exemplary method300 is generally shown in FIG. 3. The method includes detecting anaction of the individual in the environment S302, S304. As shown in FIG.3, the method 300 may include detecting an audible output of theindividual as the action of the individual S302, or receiving an inputof the individual as the action of the individual S304. Those skilled inthe art appreciate that additional, and or alternative, actions of theindividual may also be detected in additional embodiments of the method300.

In the method 300 as shown in FIG. 3, a demographic descriptor of theindividual is determined based on the detected action of the individualS306. As previously discussed, the demographic descriptor of theindividual may be any descriptor which identifies a characteristic ofthe individual, such as, but not limited to, age, race, nationality,gender, educational attainment, and location.

According to the method 300, the determined demographic descriptor ofthe individual is correlated with a content of the data stream that istransmitted to the stream receiver S308, and it is determined whether apredetermined condition is satisfied S310. As previously discussed,according to the method 300, it may be determined whether thepredetermined condition is satisfied based upon an age of the individualand a Motion Picture Association of America rating of the content of thestream, based upon a gender of the individual and a genre of the contentof the data stream, or based upon a nationality or location of theindividual and a language of the content of the data stream. Of course,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments listedabove are to be considered merely exemplary and are not intended to belimiting.

In the method 300, if it is determined that the predetermined conditionis satisfied, the data stream is automatically modified S312.

In an alternative method 400 as shown in FIG. 4, at least one of anaudible output of an individual is detected S402 and an input of theindividual is received S404 as the action of the individual. Accordingto the method 400, known information of the individual is correlatedwith the detected action of the individual S406. For example, if theenvironment is a household that is known to contain a certain number ofresidents, the detected action of the individual may be correlated withthe information that is known of the residents of the household todetermine which of the residents the individual is. Additionally, oralternatively, the detected action of the individual may be correlatedwith the information that is known of the residents to determine theage, or any other demographic descriptor, of the individual. Of course,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the examples listed aboveare to be considered merely exemplary and are not intended to belimiting.

In the method 400 shown in FIG. 4, a demographic descriptor of theindividual is determined based on the action of the individual and theknown information of the individual S408, the demographic descriptor iscorrelated with a content of the data stream S410, it is determinedwhether the correlating the demographic descriptor of the individual andthe content of the data stream satisfies a predetermined condition S412,and, in response to the predetermined condition being satisfied, thedata stream is automatically modified S414, S418, S420, S422. In themethod 400, the data stream may be automatically modified by a streamtransmitter, a stream receiver, a stream modifier, or any other device.

As shown in FIG. 4, the data stream may be automatically modified bypreventing the data stream from being transmitted to the environmentS414. For example, in an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of themethod 400, if an individual is watching television in the environmentand it is determined that the individual is a minor, then the method 400may determine any upcoming programs which may be inappropriate for theindividual and may prevent such programs from being transmitted to theenvironment. In this regard, the method 400 may further remove a titleof a data stream that is prevented from being transmitted to theenvironment from a data guide S416. For example, in the exemplaryembodiment described above, a title of any television program that isprevented from being transmitted to the environment is removed from adata guide of the television programs so that the individual is unawarethat such a program exists. According to the method 400, the streamtransmitter may prevent transmission of the data stream to theenvironment, or, alternatively, a stream receiver may deny reception ofthe data stream at the environment.

In an alternative embodiment of the method 400 as shown FIG. 4, the datastream may be automatically modified by interrupting transmission of thedata stream S418. For example, in a non-limiting and exemplaryembodiment, if an individual is perceiving the content of the datastream, and it is subsequently determined that the content of the datastream is inappropriate for the individual and/or unwanted or offensiveto the individual, then transmission of the data stream to theenvironment is interrupted. In other words, a data stream that waspreviously being transmitted to the environment is no longertransmitted, or is stopped from being transmitted, to the environment.At least one of a stream transmitter, stream receiver, or streammodifier may interrupt the transmission of the data stream to theenvironment.

In a further alternative embodiment of the method 400 as shown FIG. 4,the data stream may be automatically modified by preventing a dataconveyor from conveying the data stream to the environment S420. Forexample, in a non-limiting and exemplary embodiment of the method 400wherein a television conveys the data stream to the environment, if itis determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied at S412,then the television prevents the data stream from being conveyed to theenvironment. In this regard, the data stream may include a flag or otherindicator that notifies the television to prevent transmission of thedata stream to the environment. Of course, those skilled in the art willappreciate that the example listed above is to be considered merelyexemplary and is not intended to be limiting.

In an even further embodiment of the method 400 as shown FIG. 4, thedata stream may be automatically modified by mixing an additional datastream with the data stream that is being transmitted to the environmentS422. For example, in an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of thepresent application in which the individual is watching television inthe environment, if it is determined that the individual is amiddle-aged male and it is further known that either the individualenjoys watching a particular program or that most middle-age males enjoywatching a particular program, then an advertisement for the particularprogram may be displayed along with the current program that theindividual is watching. Of course, those skilled in the art willappreciate that the example listed above is to be considered merelyexemplary and is not intended to be limiting. For example, those skilledin the art realize that additional data streams, such as, but notlimited to, advertisements, current events, news, and/or sports scoresmay also be added to the data stream that is transmitted to theenvironment.

In an alternative method 500 as shown in FIG. 5, an action of at leastone individual is detected in the environment S502, S504, a demographicdescriptor of the individual is determined based on the action of the atleast one individual S506, the determined demographic descriptor iscorrelated with a content of a data stream being transmitted to theenvironment S508, and it is determined whether a predetermined conditionis satisfied S510. In response to determining that the predeterminedcondition is satisfied, the method 500 automatically modifies the datastream S512, S514, S516.

According to the method 500, if the data stream comprises a plurality ofdata sub-streams, then the data stream may be automatically modified bydeleting at least one of the plurality of data sub-streams of the datastream S512. For example, in an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment ofthe method 500 in which the individual is watching a television program,if it is determined that the individual is a minor and that the datastream includes data sub-streams which include content that isinappropriate or which may be offensive to minors, then such datasub-streams are deleted from the data stream. In other words, the datastream is edited to remove any inappropriate or offensive content. Ofcourse, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the example listedabove is to be considered merely exemplary and is not intended to belimiting.

In an alternative embodiment of the method 500 as shown FIG. 5, if thedata stream comprises a plurality of data sub-streams, then the datastream may be automatically modified by censoring at least one of theplurality of data sub-streams of the data stream. For example, in anexemplary and non-limiting embodiment of the method 500 in which theindividual is watching a television program, if it is determined thatthe individual is a minor and that the data stream includes datasub-streams which include content that is inappropriate or which may beoffensive to minors, then such data sub-streams may be censored to blockany inappropriate or offensive content. For example, any offensivelanguage maybe “bleeped” out while any inappropriate images may becovered with a black box or scrambled. Of course, those skilled in theart will appreciate that the example listed above is to be consideredmerely exemplary and is not intended to be limiting.

In a further alternative embodiment of the method 500 as shown FIG. 5,if the data stream comprises a plurality of data sub-streams, the datastream may be automatically modified by replacing at least one of theplurality of data sub-streams of the data stream with an alternate datasub-stream. For example, in an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment ofthe method 500 in which the individual is watching a television program,if it is determined that the individual is a minor and that the datastream includes data sub-streams which include content that isinappropriate or which may be offensive to minors, such data streams maybe replaced with alternate, edited data sub-streams. For example, datasub-streams that include offensive language may be replaced with datasub-streams that include a voice-over. Of course, those skilled in theart will appreciate that the example listed above is to be consideredmerely exemplary and is not intended to be limiting.

In the embodiment of the method 500 in which at least one of theplurality of data sub-streams is replaced with an alternate datasub-stream, the alternate data-sub-stream may be based on thedemographic descriptor of the individual. For example, in an embodimentof the method 500 in which the individual is watching a televisionprogram containing commercials, if it is determined that the individualis located in the Midwest, then a commercial including an advertisementfor the Washington Redskins may be replaced with a commercial includingan advertisement for the Chicago Bears. Of course, those skilled in theart will appreciate that the example listed above is to be consideredmerely exemplary and is not intended to be limiting.

In an alternative method 600 as shown in FIG. 6, an action of at leastone individual is detected in the environment S602, S604, a demographicdescriptor of the individual is determined based on the action of the atleast one individual S606, the determined demographic descriptor iscorrelated with a content of a data stream being transmitted to theenvironment S608, and it is determined whether a predetermined conditionis satisfied S610, S612.

In the method 600, in determining whether the predetermined condition issatisfied, it may be determined whether an individual identified orassociated with the demographic descriptor has received the data streamfor a predetermined period of time during a predetermined period. Forexample, in an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of the method 600in which the individual is watching a television program, if it isdetermined that the individual is a ten year old boy, then the method600 may determine whether the ten year old boy has been watchingtelevision programs for more than a predetermined period of time, suchas, for more than six hours during a twenty-four hour period. If themethod 600 determines that the ten year old boy has been watchingtelevision programs for more than the predetermined period of time, thenthe method may automatically modify the data stream S614. For example,the method S614 may prevent the ten year old boy from watching anyfurther television programs. Of course, those skilled in the art willappreciate that the example listed above is to be considered merelyexemplary and is not intended to be limiting.

In an alternative embodiment of the method 600, in determining whetherthe predetermined condition is satisfied, it may be determined whetheran individual associated with the demographic descriptor has recordedthe data stream to a data stream recorder for more than a predeterminedperiod of time. For example, it may be determined whether the individualassociated with a determined demographic descriptor has recorded thedata stream to the data stream recorder for more than twenty percent ofthe capacity of the data stream recorder. According to such anembodiment, the disk space of a data stream recorder can be allocatedamongst the residents of a family. Of course, those skilled in the artwill appreciate that the example listed above is to be considered merelyexemplary and is not intended to be limiting.

As shown in FIG. 6, the method may further include a database thatstores the automatic data modifications made by the method S616.According to such a feature, the method may determine individualpreferences and frequent modifications for adjusting preferences of theindividual and for predicting future modifications.

The present disclosure also provides a tangible computer-readable mediumencoded with an executable computer program for managing a data streamthat is transmitted from a stream transmitter to a stream receiver,wherein the stream receiver is disposed in an environment that includesat least one individual. The computer-readable medium includes an actiondetecting code segment that detects an action of the individual in theenvironment and a demographic determining code segment that determines,based on the detected action of the individual, a demographic descriptorof the individual. A correlating code segment correlates the determineddemographic descriptor of the individual and a content of the datastream to determine whether a predetermined condition is satisfied. Inresponse to the correlating code segment determining that thepredetermined condition is satisfied, a modifying code segmentautomatically modifies the data stream.

Accordingly, the present invention enables management of a data streamthat is transmitted to an environment that includes at least oneindividual based on a determined demographic descriptor of theindividual. The demographic descriptor of the individual is determinedbased upon an action of the individual rather than being based upon userdefined settings. Accordingly, the present invention provides real-timeidentification of a demographic descriptor of an individual and providesfor automatically modifying the data stream based on the identifieddemographic descriptor.

Although the invention has been described with reference to severalexemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words that have beenused are words of description and illustration, rather than words oflimitation. Changes may be made within the purview of the appendedclaims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention in its aspects. Although the inventionhas been described with reference to particular means, materials andembodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to theparticulars disclosed; rather the invention extends to all functionallyequivalent structures, methods, and uses such as are within the scope ofthe appended claims.

For example, the demographic determiner is described herein as includingan audio capture device for capturing an audible output of theindividual. However, those skilled in the art appreciate that thedemographic determiner may include additional, or alternative, means fordetecting any type of action of the individual, such as, but not limitedto, a video capture device for detecting a visual action of theindividual. Furthermore, while the present invention has generally beendescribed with reference to the non-limiting and exemplary embodiment ofdetecting an age of an individual and automatically modifying a datastream comprising a television program based upon the age of theindividual, those skilled in the art appreciate that the presentinvention may also comprise additional embodiments. For example, thepresent invention may determine a geographic location of an individualor individuals and automatically modify the data stream based upon thelocation of the individual to provide geographically sensitive data tothe individual. Additionally, or alternatively, in further embodiments,the present invention may tailor advertisements or programs toindividuals based upon various demographic descriptors. Of course, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the example listed above is tobe considered merely exemplary and is not intended to be limiting.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, theterm “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiplemedia, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associatedcaches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capableof storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution bya processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or moreof the methods or operations disclosed herein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, thecomputer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as amemory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatileread-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be arandom access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally,the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or opticalmedium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to capturecarrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmissionmedium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include anycomputer-readable medium or other equivalents and successor media, inwhich data or instructions may be stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsthat may be implemented in particular embodiments with reference toparticular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited tosuch standards and protocols. Such standards are periodically supersededby faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the samefunctions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocols having thesame or similar functions are considered equivalents thereof.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may notbe drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may beexaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, thedisclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative ratherthan restrictive.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein,individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely forconvenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of thisapplication to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover,although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangementdesigned to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted forthe specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover anyand all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not beused to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Inaddition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may begrouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose ofstreamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed toless than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus,the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimedsubject matter.

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximumextent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is to bedetermined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the followingclaims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited bythe foregoing detailed description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for managing a data stream that istransmitted to an environment, the method comprising: displaying thedata stream in the environment, the data stream including a currentprogram; detecting an action of an individual in the environment, theaction being an audible output; determining a demographic descriptor ofthe individual with a processor and based on the audible output, thedemographic descriptor comprising a geographic descriptor of theindividual; correlating the demographic descriptor of the individual anda content of the data stream with the processor to determine whether apredetermined condition is satisfied; and modifying the data stream todisplay the current program along with additional data for a differentprogram, the additional data determined based on the demographicdescriptor of the individual and displayed in response to thecorrelating the demographic descriptor of the individual and the contentof the data stream satisfying the predetermined condition.
 2. The methodas set forth in claim 1, wherein known information of the individual iscorrelated with the audible output of the individual to determine thedemographic descriptor of the individual.
 3. The method as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the action of the individual includes a user input andthe demographic descriptor of the individual is determined based on theuser input.
 4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the modifyingthe data stream includes displaying an advertisement for the differentprogram.
 5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the modifyingthe data stream includes displaying a score of the different program. 6.The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data stream comprises aplurality of data sub-streams, and the modifying the data streamincludes deleting one of the plurality of data sub-streams.
 7. Themethod as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data stream comprises aplurality of data sub-streams, and the modifying the data streamincludes censoring one of the plurality of data sub-streams.
 8. Themethod as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data stream comprises aplurality of data sub-streams, and the modifying the data streamincludes replacing one of the plurality of data sub-streams with analternate data sub-stream.
 9. The method as set forth in claim 1,wherein the additional data is determined based on the geographicdescriptor of the individual.
 10. The method as set forth in claim 1,wherein the modifying the data stream includes mixing an additional datastream with the data stream.
 11. The method as set forth in claim 1,further comprising: storing each modification of the data stream in adatabase.
 12. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein theenvironment is a private dwelling of the individual, the data stream isa television stream, and the demographic descriptor further comprises anage of the individual.
 13. The method as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe demographic descriptor, including the geographic descriptor of theindividual, is determined based on the action of the individual andknown information of the individual.
 14. The method as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the predetermined condition includes correlating acontent of the data stream and the geographic descriptor of theindividual.
 15. A system for managing a data stream that is transmittedto an environment, the system comprising: a display that displays thedata stream in the environment, the data stream including currentprogram; a demographic determining processor that detects an action ofan individual in the environment, the action being an audible output,and determines a demographic descriptor of the individual based on theaudible output, the demographic descriptor comprising a geographicdescriptor of the individual; a correlating processor that correlatesthe demographic descriptor of the individual and a content of the datastream to determine whether a predetermined condition is satisfied; anda stream modification processor that modifies the data stream to displaythe current program along with additional data for a different program,the additional data determined based on the demographic descriptor ofthe individual and displayed in response to the correlating processordetermining that the predetermined condition is satisfied.
 16. Thesystem as set forth in claim 15, wherein the demographic determiningprocessor includes an audio detector that detects the audible output.17. The system as set forth in claim 15, wherein the demographicdescriptor, including the geographic descriptor of the individual, isdetermined based on the action of the individual and known informationof the individual.
 18. The system as set forth in claim 15, wherein thepredetermined condition includes correlating a content of the datastream and the geographic descriptor of the individual.
 19. The systemas set forth in claim 15, wherein the modifying the data stream includesdisplaying an advertisement for the different program.
 20. A tangiblecomputer-readable medium encoded with an executable computer program formanaging a data stream that is transmitted to an environment that, whenexecuted by a processor, causes the processor to perform operationscomprising: displaying the data stream in the environment, the datastream including a current program; detecting an action of an individualin the environment, the action being an audible output; determining,based on the audible output, a demographic descriptor of the individual,the demographic descriptor comprising a geographic descriptor of theindividual; correlating the demographic descriptor of the individual anda content of the data stream to determine whether a predeterminedcondition is satisfied; and modifying the data stream to display thecurrent program along with additional data for a different program, theadditional data determined based on the demographic descriptor of theindividual and displayed in response to the correlating determining thatthe predetermined condition is satisfied.